We need your help to attend a public meeting on October 22 to urge planners to expand climbing opportunities at Minnewaska Park!

Minnewaska State Park (located near the Gunks) recently released a draft Master Plan that perpetuates a climbing ban in the park, including multiple areas: Palmaghatt Ravine, Murrary Hill, Castle Point, Millbrook, Beacon Hill, and Lake Minnewaska cliffs. The Minnewaska climbing ban now also extends to the newly acquired lands including Awosting Reserve (Gertrude’s Nose), the Shevchenko parcel crags, and Sam's Point. The ban on ice climbing on all the park's numerous falls and flows continues as well. The Minnewaska prohibition represents the largest ban of climbing on public lands in the country!

This draft plan is not final and it is very important to get as many climbers to the meeting as possible. Please try to attend and tell the park their proposed restrictions on climbing are unnecessary and unreasonable. (See Access Fund comments on this issue.)

The public hearing for the Minnewaska State Park Preserve master plan will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Lecture Center, Room 100 at SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY.